Heliotropium angiospermum
Scorpion-Tail
- Family:Boraginaceae
- Form:Erect to sprawling herbaceous perennial shrub. Reaching to 3 feet, with the width sometimes greater than the height
- Leaves:Alternate simple elliptic to lanceolate leaves are pubescent, with conspicuous venation, distinctly petiolate, 3-8 cm long and 1-4 cm wide
- Stem/Bark:Stems emanate from a base that turns woody with age
- Flower:Tiny 1-2 mm rotate flowers of 5 petals surround the yellow throat of the 5-lobed corolla and calyx. Bisexual flowers are paired on one side of curved terminal spikes. Inflorescence are elongate and indeterminate
- Fruit:Schizocarp with minute scales. Fruit is separated into two seeded nutlets
- Comments:H. angiospermum is one of four native Heliotrope species in Florida , all have a woody base and are characterized by tiny flowers borne in a row along only one side of a flower stalk. (H. curssavicum-seaside succulent leaves, H. amplexicaule-purple flowers, H. polyphyllum-white to yellow flowers)
- Additional Resources:
Florida Native Plant Society
